A review by thebiasedbibliophile
Inked by Rachel Rener

5.0

I rarely read books with any kind of spice in them, but after Rachel Rener assured me that the spice in Inked was tasteful, I figured I’d give it a shot (because have you seen the Kickstarter omnibus for the series?!). I’ve never been more glad that someone talked me into reading a book because Inked is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorites! In fact, it is the only book with spice that has made it onto my all-time favorites list!

So, the novel follows Talia, who is a tattoo artist. We are instantly thrown into action when Talia is tattooing a cobra/rattlesnake on a client and she runs out of ink. With no other option, she uses the special ink her boss forbade her from touching, and lo and behold, the tattoo comes to life. On top of that, her boss, with whom she has a complicated romantic past, disappears.

This book had me in its grasp from the very beginning! On top of rarely reading spicy books, I rarely read urban fantasy because they often feel a bit underwhelming. That was not the case with this book! The magic system was well-thought-out and clear, which made the world feel that much more expansive, even when the characters were on Earth. 

Similarly, I love what Rener did with the world-building. I thought the various magical beings really enhanced the overall feeling, and I can’t wait to see how she develops that further in the next books. I have a feeling that Inked only touches the surface of the fae realm, so I’m excited for the characters to return there.

And, as promised, the spice was tasteful! I appreciated the fact that I wasn’t reading spicy scenes on every other page. The spice that was included directly related to the plot, something I cannot stress enough. Possibly the quickest way to lose me as a reader is to write unnecessary spice. Thankfully, the spice in Inked was so interconnected to the story that I not only managed to get through it, but I also likely would have been disappointed if it hadn’t been included. 

Finally, I cannot express how important this book is to me on a personal level. Talia and her mother are both Jewish, which is a significant part of their identities. This representation is so vital and unfortunately sparse in fantasy. Although I am a big advocate for all kinds of diverse representation, Jewish representation is particularly close to my heart. In college, I joined a sorority that was founded by five remarkable Jewish women who broke through so many barriers in their lives. I have always felt honored to be part of an organization that amplifies underrepresented and historically marginalized voices. So, it was very special to read a book by a similarly remarkable Jewish woman who made it a point to shine a light on a culture that is, too often, overlooked.

As a whole, I cannot recommend Inked enough! I’m always excited to add beautiful books to my collection, but to add a beautiful book that I adored so much? My year is made!